How to heal after dating a narcissist or sociopath

At first, your ex was a dream. They came on strong with seduction tactics, showering you with praise and wanting to know everything about you. But then came the manipulation: Maybe they started giving you the silent treatment, blaming you for everything that went wrong in the relationship, or bringing other people into the picture to spark jealousy. And finally, after all this, they discarded you. They waited until they knew how much you loved, wanted, and needed them, and then they cut the cord.

Congrats, you’ve survived a relationship with a narcissist.

Getting out of—and, better yet, getting over—any romantic relationship can be a total nightmare. But it’s a whole different, er, monster when you’re breaking up with a narcissist, a sociopath, or a combination of both. This was no ordinary relationship; therefore, it’s no ordinary path to recovery. “You realize that the relationship felt real to you, but the [other person] faked it the entire time,” says Andrea Schneider, LCSW, author ofSoul Vampires: Reclaiming Your Lifeblood After Narcissistic Abuse. “You’ve been in love with a pretend person. That reality is absolutely devastating.”

“You’ve been in love with a pretend person. That reality is absolutely devastating.”

But it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. As someone whose life fell apart at the masterful hand of a charming sociopath, I can tell you I was able to not only build it back up, but become a happier, healthier, and stronger version of myself than I could have ever imagined. Yeah, your heart and mind might feel like they are broken beyond repair right now. But I promise, it’s worth the fight.

Read on for 4 healing strategies you can use after breaking up with a narcissist or sociopath.

1. Find a support team

Unlike with most breakups, you are bonded to a narcissistic or sociopathic abuser through trauma—that’s what makes moving on so damn hard. And because of this, you’re extra susceptible to anxiety, depression, and even PTSD.

And the science behind trauma explains why your heart and mind feel like they are broken beyond repair: “Trauma is trapped in a different part of the brain that doesn’t use reason, it doesn’t use logic, it doesn’t use language,” Bonchay explains, adding that it takes certain practices to “get that trauma unstuck.” This is why you should start your healing process by finding a reputable and respected therapist, counselor, or life coach who specifically treats relationship trauma inflicted by someone with a personality disorder.

“Trauma is trapped in a different part of the brain that doesn’t use reason, it doesn’t use logic, it doesn’t use language.”

And while you may be tempted to isolate yourself—after all, you wonder if you can trust anyone right now—both therapists emphasize how crucial it is to keep yourself open to the right people. Seek out support groups and friends who can help guide you through this difficult time.

3/5

Photo: Stocksy/Jayme Burrows

2. Double down on self-care

Self-care is a must for any kind of healing, and you should make it an absolute priority after ending things with an abuser. Schneider recommends “anything that’s good for mind, body, and spirit—and anything that will help to release tension.”

3. Delete your ex’s number—and block them on social

The key to all of this working is a complete break in contact with your abuser. Stalking their Insta stories will only leave you stuck in a continual pain loop–especially if they’re already loved-up with someone else (AKA their next target).

“When the relationship ends and they look happy with someone else, you are conditioned to think, ‘It must have been me,'” Bonchay says. “But all of these narratives were put in your head. The next relationship isn’t going to fix them. It’s a persistent and pervasive disorder.”

So stand firm in your own no-contact rules—block their social media pages, delete their phone number, whatever it takes. “Make sure your door [to your abuser] isn’t just locked,” Schneider says, “it’s dead bolted.” Of course, if there are children involved or you work with the person, it’s a little more complicated. But in such cases, Bonchay and Schneider suggest limiting your contact to when it’s absolutely necessary.

5/5

Photo: Stocksy/Nick Bondarev

4. Be patient with the process

Recovering from abuse at the skilled and heartless hands of a narcissistic sociopath isn’t an overnight fix, and you’re bound to have days (and sometimes weeks or months) where you ruminate and fall back into old habits. That’s fine—you’re only human.

“It’s so common to have moments of sentimentality and wistfulness,” Schneider says. “Be glad you have the capacity to love.”

And while no one wants to experience such a horrible trauma, know that there may be a silver lining: Follow these tips and you’ll likely come out knowing how to create healthy boundaries with others, leaving yourself open to wonderful, authentic relationships. (Including the one you have with yourself.)